Illuminating device



.Oct. 11, 1932. E. K. LUNDY 1,881,767

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed May 15, 1930 .ZEzJembr Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN K. LUNDY, OF HUBBARD WOODS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CURTIS LIGHTING, INQ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ILLUMINATING DEVICE Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to the type of lighting fixtures which are used for indirect illumina- .tion and which employ for that purpose an inverted reflector which directs the rays of light from a bulb or lamp toward the ceiling in an upwardly or outwardly dlrection from th reflector. In lighting fixtures of this character it is often the practice to provide an exterior annular member in the form of a shade or bowl which surrounds the lighting unit and reflector to provide a more or less ornate fixture. In order to illuminate this exterior member it has been the practice to provide auxiliary lamps or bulbs which are disposed between the reflector and the annular member, and it has alsobeen the practice to provide the reflector w1t h a relatlvely wide opening in its lower portion to perm t egressof light. rays and a dlfluser cup is usually associated with this open portion of the reflector to break up the light rays.

It will be obvious that structures such as above-mentioned necessitate the use of additional parts such as the brackets and the sockets to carry the auxiliary llghts, and as the diffuser cup is usually a separate part some provision must be made for mounting the same in proper coordination with the reflector.

The present illuminating device haspractically all of the advantages of the above-described structures, with the additional advantage that the extra parts are eliminated. In my fixture the light is directed upwardly and outwardly to the ceiling by an inverted reflector from a light source within it, and the exterior annular member, in the form of a shade or bowl, is illuminated to create the decorative'eflect that may be desired. The illumination of the shade or bowl is accomplished by providing a prismatic element or several prismatic elements in connection with the reflector, and, for convenience in both manufacture and assembly, it is preferred that the prismatic element or elements be made integral with the reflector body and formed as a unitary part thereof. It will be understood, however, that the prismatic element or elements may be separate from th 1930. Serial No. 452,075.

reflector and they will accomplish the same I drawing that forms a part of this specifica-v tion.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a view, in both section and elevation, showing a fixture made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail in enlarged section of a portion of the reflector and the prismatic elements.

The drawing, it will be understood, is more or less schematic for the purpose of disclosing a typical or preferred form in which my invention is made, and in said drawing similar reference characters have been employed to designate like parts whereever they appear throughout the several views.

Referring first to Figure 1 of'the drawing, 5 represents a suitable standard or base which may beof any desired type and ornamented in the manner suitable for the room or apartment in which the lamp is to be used, and mounted upon the upper end of this standard is an electric socket element 6 to receive an electric light-bulb 7 of the desired candle power. The electric current for the socket and bulb is derived from a suitable source by conductors that are usually led through the base of the standard to the terminals in the socket.

An inverted cup-shaped holder 8 ismounted preferably upon the socket element so that it is indirectly supported by the standard and the upper edge of this holder is provided with a rim 9 to receive the lower edge of the control structure or light transmitting and lower edge of which rests upon the adjacent portion of the cup-shaped holder 8 and fits within the rim 9 thereof, and this cylindrical or annular section is preferably made from translucent or transparent glass so that'the light rays reaching the same will pass there through. Forthe purpose of breaking up the rays of light and directing them in a direction so as toilluminate the outer shade or bowl this cylindrical section 11' is made of prismatic form in section by providing one or more prismatic'ribs 12 so that the light rays from-the bulb 7that-pass through this element will be directed radially by and from the prisms 12 to the surface of the shade or bowl.

The upper section l3 of the element, like the lower-section thereof, is made of translucent or transparent glass in order that lightrays may pass therethrough, and in order to direct these rays of l-ightupon the interior of the shade or bowl this upper section13 is provided with' one or'more prismatic ribs 14. The annular member 15 may be inthe form of a shad'eorbow'l of any desired shape or dimension and it is mounted upon the fixture in any suitable mannnpreferably by means of. inwardly extending arms 16 that rest upon the'upper edge of the light reflecting .and transmitting element. The shade,

however, need not be supported by the upper edge of the light controlling structure and K it maybe supported either by the cup shaped member 8, the socket 6, orthe standard 5.

The same is true respecting the light control element orreflector 10, which may be sup- 7 ported directly from the standard 5, or by a bracket extending outwa dl i 'q s0cket 6..-, z r,

When the light control element is being fabricated theprism orprisms maybe cast integrally .withthe glassreflector, or it may be-a separate part which is fused upon the reflector after the latter has been molded. or, cast. In the event the reflector portion is made of metal the light transmitting and directing prisms maybe made from glass and means provlded for mounting them, or

the upper and lower edges of the metal reflector maybe so shaped that it will receive these v parts, It would also be possible to support the prismatic elements directly from the standard5: or other portion of the fixture.

When the bulb is switched on thelight rays therefrom which strike the reflecting surface 10 of the light control element will be projected upwardly and outwardly from within the reflector as indicated by the broken lines w. Certain rays of light will reach the lightransmitting portion ofthe control element and will be directed by prisms outwardly from the same to the surface'of the shade trol element has a portion that is opaque and V has reflecting qualities so that direct rays of light from the bulb are reflected upwardly and outwardly from the control element to the ceiling of the room. The remaining portionof the'control element is of a light transmitting character and is prismatic in section so that light rays will pass through this portion and be directed to the shade to illuminate the latter. The shade or bowl that forms the annular exterior member of this fixture is of such dimensions that it surrounds the bulb and the control element, and in some instances it may beopaque with exterior ornamenta- "tion. Inthelatter event the prismatic ele "ment should be positioned beyond the edge of the member so that light rays that pass through the prism will be directed upon the outer surface of the member and thereby illuminate the same. The fundamental idea in devising this fixture is to provide indirect illumination through the medium of an inverted reflector and to illuminate the exterior annular members in "the form of a shade or bowl without the use of auxiliary lamps or a diffuser cup such as has heretofore been in vogue.

What I claim'is:' w

1. An illuminating device. comprising a light bulb, an inverted opaque reflector surrounding the same and arranged to-direct light rays solely in an upward direction outwardly therefrom-,a shade surrounding said reflector,=and meansfor illuminating said shade consisting of light transmitting prismatic members, at upper and lower portions of said reflector, the facets of said prismatic members being disposed so as to direct light rays radially therefrom onto said shade.

2. An illuminating device comprising a light bulb, an inverted opaque reflectorsurrounding the same and arranged to direct light rays solely in an upward direction outwardly therefrom, a shade surrounding said reflector, and means'for illuminating said shade consisting of transparent prismatic members formed integrally with upper and lower portions of said reflector, the facets of said prismatic members being disposed so as to direct light rays radially therefrom onto said shade.

3. An illuminating device comprisin a light bulb, an inverted reflector surroun mg the same and arranged to direct light rays solely in an upward direction outwardly therefrom, a shade surrounding said reflector,

and means for illuminating said shade consisting of light transmitting prismatic members at upper and lower portions of said reflector, the facets of said prismatic members being disposed so as to direct light rays ra dially therefrom onto said shade, sa1d refiector being of opaque non-light-transmitting material, whereby said prismatic members provide the sole means for directing light rays from said bulb to said shade.

4. An illuminating device comprising a light bulb, a shade surrounding said bulb, and a combined light reflecting and light transmitting element interposed between said shade and said bulb, said element consisting of a bowl the intermediate portion of which is opaque and havin a reflecting surface adapted to reflect lig t rays from the bulb in an upward direction above the structure, and the upper and lower portions of said bowl having light transmitting properties and having prismatic formation in cross section, said prlsmatic portions bein integral with the other portion of the e ement and having their facets arranged so as to direct light rays from the bulb in radial directions from the element to illuminate the shade.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 30th day of April, 1930.

EDWIN K. LUNDY. 

